With the commercial refrigeration and freezer market expanding globally, it can be seen that many businesses are coming to understand the importance and benefits of blast freezing. This rapid expansion is not only affecting large organizations but smaller, local ones too as more and more of us demand freshly frozen food products.
If we are to understand the reasons behind this expansion, we must look toward the specific benefits that blast freezers hold, as well as the problems that they can prevent within the food and catering industries.
Bacterial Protection and Control
Meat, fish and poultry can all harbor considerable amounts of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella in their fresh, raw form. These bacteria multiply alarmingly quickly over just a few days if left in unsuitable conditions. However, they can be controlled and destroyed if the correct freezing and cooking methods are used.
One of the biggest benefits of blast freezers is that they have the ability to freeze several tons of produce in as little as 24 hours. This super-fast process ensures that bacteria has minimal time to develop and keeps produce fresh in bulk.
As a rule of thumb, you should ensure that meat, fish and poultry are stored at around -18 °C (equivalent to 0 °F) or colder. At this temperature, bacteria cannot develop and you can be sure that your produce is safer for consumers once it is in their hands.
Nutritional Health
Another fantastic benefit of the blast freezer is that it can help to preserve nutrients in food.
The speedy freezing process of the blast freezer provides benefits to both the consumer and the business, as it effectively stops rapid nutrient deterioration. A slower freezing process would still allow for unwanted changes in the produce and could result in bland, unhealthy food being consumed by the public.
Nutritional health is of particular importance if stored food is intended for schools and hospitals. Young children and those who are considered vulnerable are particularly reliant on nutrient-dense foodstuffs and that is why the nutrient preserving properties of a blast freezer are so beneficial.
Blast freezers can also be used to retain nutrients in ready cooked meals, making them an important asset to have as the demand for healthier frozen goods grows across the globe.
Why Invest in a Blast Freezer? The Business Case
If you are looking to expand the amount of stock you hold quickly and without fuss, then investing in a blast freezer is the right choice for your company. With easy setup and no planning permission necessary, you can begin blast freezing new produce within days, ensuring a plentiful supply of stock and giving your customers a broader product selection.
Portable blast freezers can be purchased or rented simply for the added convenience of manageability—even if your unit is stationary for long periods of time.
Blast freezers can be used by food distributors and caterers to preserve produce for transport to other areas. Alternatively, a blast freezer can be used as a static storage solution. They are available in a range of sizes to cater to the needs of different businesses, and they also offer the benefit of portability.
Purchasing or renting the right blast freezer over a number of months is much more cost-effective than building an external cold store. Alternatively, they can be rented over set periods of time if your organization’s needs are only temporary.
Great Cost Effectiveness
Investing in a blast freezer can not only save you money through minimizing waste but it can help your business expand the produce that it has on-hand. Much like the bacterial and nutritional advantages, expansion is beneficial for both the business and the customer.
Food safety should be of the utmost importance for every organization in the industry. Adopting new and efficient ways to improve this will ensure a harmonious relationship between the company and the consumer, and will improve the health of the general population.
So who are blast freezers beneficial for? Butchers, bakers, retailers, food groups and even pharmaceutical companies have all reaped the benefits of portable blast freezing units. Their versatility means that they can be used across several industries and for all types of temperature-sensitive products.
Learn more about expanding your blast freezer capacity at CRSColdStorage.co.uk.
